Year: 2015

As an entrepreneur, I’ve had my share of overwhelming times where I felt like the sky was literally falling around me. This feeling isn’t unique to entrepreneurs, it can be experienced by anyone at virtually any point in life. Whether it’s family/relationship, work, financial, or just seasonal circumstances that are causing the stress and feelings of being overwhelmed, it can be very helpful to remember the following 7 tips: Read More

The famous Tibetan poet Milarepa once said: [mks_highlight color=”#eeee22″]”My religion is to live – and die – without regret.”[/mks_highlight] I remember writing that quote down in my journal with a big star next to it that said, “me too!” It’s been almost 4 years since I wrote that down. I recently came across a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing and it made me pause and reflect on the way that I’m living. Read More

Karma is such a common word…It’s perhaps one of the most well-known words from Buddhist vocabulary, but it’s also the most misunderstood. Generally, when you hear the word karma, what comes to mind? Most likely it’s something along the lines of “what goes around, comes around”, right? It’s common to think of karma as a cosmic form of justice, but that’s a misconception. Read More

Meditation
Meditation is where mindful living starts. It doesn’t have to be complicated, just sit for 5-10 minutes and learn to “be in the present”. Focus your attention on your breath. Notice when your thoughts wander from your breath, and gently return to the breath.

The real meditation practice is how we live our lives from moment to moment to moment. – Jon Kabat-Zinn

In Buddhism, we talk about the concept of “no self”, the idea that things have no intrinsic existence of their own. Take a moment and look down at your hands right now, they’re probably holding your phone or holding the mouse, ready to click away from this article (don’t do it!). But look at them and ask yourself: [mks_highlight color=”#eeee22″]”are these hands really me?”[/mks_highlight] What if you lost your hands in an accident…would you still be you? Of course right? Now look at your legs and ask the same question: “If I didn’t have these legs, would I still be me?” What part of you is really you?Read More

One of my favorite Buddhist concepts is the concept of “emptiness“. It’s a central teaching in Buddhism and yet it’s often misunderstood. [mks_highlight color=”#eeee22”]Emptiness does not mean nothingness[/mks_highlight]. In fact, the proper understanding of emptiness is so vital that the great Buddhist philosopher/poet Nagarjuna wrote:

“Emptiness wrongly grasped is like picking up a poisonous snake by the wrong end.”

Emptiness means that things (ALL things) are void of intrinsic existence on their own. In other words, everything comes into being because of causes and conditions (sometimes referred to as dependent origination). Things only exist because of their interdependence on the things that make it exist. Read More